Ronaldo Nazario is undoubtedly one of the greatest footballers in history. For many, he is even considered the best striker of all time, which explains his nickname, ‘Freak’.
The star from Rio de Janeiro particularly shone during the 90s and the early years of the following decade, reaching his peak with the World Cup victory with Brazil in 2002. That same year, he won the Ballon d’Or for the second time (his first was in 1997).
He was a footballer who possessed everything: speed, dribbling, and magic. Watching him play was a true pleasure. In fact, some opponents admitted to ‘trembling’ at the prospect of facing him. One such player was the Italian defender Fabio Cannavaro, who confessed, “He was always the only player who scared me.”
And how could it be any different? When Ronaldo advanced with the ball under control, his opponents often ended up on the ground like fallen sticks. This was the case throughout his career, whether he was playing in Brazil or Europe.
In fact, in December 2008, when he decided to return to his home country and play for the Corinthians, against all odds, he demonstrated that his historic nickname had never suited anyone better, even though he was clearly overweight.
Corinthians, the ‘Last Dance’ of the Phenomenon
Ronaldo joined the Sao Paulo club, generating excitement as well as criticism. The star had not played for nearly nine months due to an injury at AC Milan, which raised doubts among some ‘Timao’ fans.
However, many supporters, aware of Ronnie’s talent, were thrilled about his arrival. He responded to their enthusiasm immediately.
His debut took place on Wednesday, March 4, 2009, against Itumbiara in the Copa Brasil, where he showcased some impressive skills within just 27 minutes. That weekend, particularly on Sunday the 8th, Nazario displayed his talent: playing for 20 minutes, he was the standout player in the classic match against Palmeiras in the Brasileirao, scoring a last-minute equalizer and dazzling fans with his dribbling. Corinthians fans even broke down a gate in their excitement during the celebration.
The ‘Phenomenon’ was back, and joy was all that followed. Ronaldo continued to reveal the best of his abilities every weekend. The extra weight was inconsequential; the forward looked fantastic, humiliating defenders time after time.
Goals scored with his left, right, headers, long-range shots, penalties… the ‘Phenomenon’s’ stint offered many memorable moments. His dazzling footwork and cheeky tricks were also abundant.
As if that wasn’t enough, besides the goals and skillful moves that thrilled the Timao crowd every weekend, Ronaldo also led his teammates to win two trophies in 2009: the Paulista tournament and the Brazil Cup.
That season, Nazario played a total of 38 matches across all competitions, scoring 23 goals and providing 6 assists. In 2010, he played 27 games, accumulating 12 goals and the same number of assists.
Through these statistics, Ronaldo silenced critics who doubted his return and questioned whether his talent could still help one of Brazil’s giants.
The B side: being overweight and partying did not hinder achievements
Ronaldo’s sporting successes were often accompanied by a love for parties, which followed him throughout his career.
In Spain, people still recount the story that Iván Helguera shared about attending one of Ronaldo’s birthday parties: “I went with my wife. When buses filled with young women began arriving, my wife told me to go home,” he said with a laugh.
In Brazil, things were not different. Argentine player Matías Defederico, who also played for San Marcos de Arica, shared moments spent with the star at Corinthians, revealing Ronaldo’s penchant for celebrations.
“We were in pre-season, about 300 kilometers from where we lived. We trained that Sunday morning, and at 11, they let us go free until the evening, until 10 at night. ‘Gordo’ said, ‘I’m not going to stay here; what are we going to do?’ I told him: ‘Dude, it takes three hours to get to Sao Paulo, another three to come back; it’s crazy,’” the player recounted.
“But he called a helicopter and had it land on the training grounds. ‘Let’s go to my house,’ he said. An hour in the helicopter, and we arrived in Sao Paulo, where the helicopter landed on the roof of his building,” he added.
Defederico recalled in an interview with TNT Sports that “we got to the building, and he told one of the security guards: ‘You go buy the meat; call Fulanito, Fulanita, Fulanita, and Fulanita.’ In fifteen minutes, he organized a barbecue for sixty people and cooked it himself. He ordered meat and drinks, and by the time we finished training, we were having a pool party. He is a phenomenon. The ‘Phenomenon’ is the nickname that fits him perfectly.
The Argentine also admitted that on the field, “he was exceptional; he made a difference. I remember instances where he was overweight, in pain, with thyroid issues; he could hardly play due to the discomfort. He only trained on Fridays and played on Sundays… and that’s how he succeeded. It wasn’t that he was ‘Gordo’ and had to be left behind; he was the best player on our team.”
“I recall situations in which he couldn’t track back like the rest of us when we were being attacked. We would steal the ball back, and he’d still be offside, so we had to kill time for him to get into position. When he was available, we’d give him the ball, and he’d take care of everything. It was incredible.”
A legend who undoubtedly marked an era—and will continue to do so in the years to come.
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<h1>Ronaldo Nazário: The Phenomenon of Football History</h1>
<p><strong>Ronaldo Nazário</strong> is undoubtedly one of the best footballers in history. For many, he is even the best striker of all time. Not for nothing is his nickname <strong>'Freak'</strong>.</p>
<p>The star from Rio de Janeiro shone especially in the 90s and the early 2000s, reaching his peak with the World Cup won with Brazil in 2002. That same year, he won the Ballon d'Or for the second time (1997 was the first).</p>
<p>He was a footballer who combined everything: speed, dribbling, and magic. Watching him was a pleasure. So much so that there were rivals who admitted to 'trembling' when facing him. One of them was the Italian defender Fabio Cannavaro, who said: <strong>“He was always the only player who scared me.”</strong></p>
<p>As expected, when Ronaldo advanced with the ball under control, his opponents ended up on the ground like sticks. This occurred throughout his career, whether in Brazil or in Europe.</p>
<p>In fact, in December 2008, when he returned to Brazil to play for the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.corinthians.com.br/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Corinthians</a>, against all odds, he demonstrated that his historic nickname had never suited anyone better, even despite being overweight.</p>
<h2>Corinthians: The 'Last Dance' of the Phenomenon</h2>
<p>Ronaldo arrived at the São Paulo club and initially generated excitement, but also criticism. The star had not played for almost nine months after an injury at AC Milan, causing skepticism among some fans of 'Timao'.</p>
<p>However, many supporters knew Ronnie's talent and were thrilled about his arrival. The star wasted no time in responding to them during his debut on March 4, 2009, against Itumbiara in the Copa do Brasil, where in just 27 minutes, he dazzled spectators with his skills.</p>
<p>That weekend, on Sunday the 8th, <strong>Nazário exhibited his talent:</strong> he played only 20 minutes but was the star of the classic against Palmeiras in the Brasileirão, scoring a last-minute equalizer that sent the Corinthians fans into a frenzy, breaking down a gate in excitement.</p>
<p>The 'Phenomenon' was back, and only joy was to follow. Ronaldo continued to show his skills every weekend. <strong>The extra pounds didn't matter; he looked incredible, leaving defenders humiliated time and time again.</strong></p>
<h3>Statistical Brilliance</h3>
<p>During his time with Corinthians, he was a scoring machine:</p>
<table class="wp-block-table">
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Year</th>
<th>Matches</th>
<th>Goals</th>
<th>Assists</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>2009</td>
<td>38</td>
<td>23</td>
<td>6</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2010</td>
<td>27</td>
<td>12</td>
<td>6</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>His performance silenced the doubters, proving his talent was more than enough to help one of Brazil's giants.</p>
<h2>The B Side: Controversies and Celebrations</h2>
<p>Despite his incredible successes on the field, Ronaldo's sports career was always accompanied by parties and a carefree lifestyle. His penchant for celebrations became the stuff of legends.</p>
<p>In Spain, Iván Helguera famously relayed an anecdote about attending one of Ronaldo’s birthday parties: “I went with my wife. <strong>When buses of young ladies began to descend,</strong> my wife told me to go home,” he said with a laugh.</p>
<p>Similarly, in Brazil, Matías Defederico shared experiences from their time at Corinthians that showcased Ronaldo's charisma and ability to throw incredible parties. “We were in pre-season, about 300 kilometers from where we lived. We trained that Sunday morning and at 11 they released us... and 'Gordo' said: <strong>'I'm not going to stay here, what are we going to do?'</strong></p>
<p>“But he goes and calls a helicopter and lands it on the training fields. <strong>'Let's go to my house,'</strong> he says. An hour in the helicopter and we arrived in São Paulo,” Defederico reminisced.</p>
<p>This revealing story indicated the luxurious lifestyle Ronaldo led, as he effortlessly arranged a barbecue for sixty people in just fifteen minutes, demonstrating his larger-than-life personality. <strong>He cooked the meat himself and had everyone partying in no time.</strong></p>
<h3>Performance Amidst Distraction</h3>
<p>Despite the nightlife and celebrations, Ronaldo never failed to deliver on the pitch. Although he faced challenges such as being overweight and enduring thyroid problems, his exceptional talent allowed him to dominate matches. “I remember situations where he couldn’t run like we did when we lost the ball,” Defederico explained. “We would win the ball back and he would still be offside. When he was open, we would give it to him, and he would solve it by himself.”</p>
<p>His ability to shine despite facing physical setbacks only solidified his status as a football legend. The incredible feats he achieved throughout his career have left an indelible mark on football history.</p>
<h2>Legacy of a Legend</h2>
<p>Ronaldo Nazário is not just a name; he represents an era where football was as much about artistry as it was about competition. His influence on the sport, his breathtaking performances, and his robust personality continue to inspire generations.</p>
<p>From his early years in Brazil to his triumphant return with Corinthians, the journey of 'Fenômeno' is a story interwoven with passion, skill, and undying love for the game.</p>
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